Heel building machine



Dec. 14, 1943. J. A. McMAHoN i-rrAL.

HEEL BUILDING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. J., 1941 grr@ )eA/EKDec. 14, 1943. J. A. McMAHoN ETAL HEEL BUILDING MACHINE 1o sneets;sheet2 Filed Dec. 1. 1941 Bmw Dec. 14, 1943 .L A. MCMAHON` ETA.

HEEL BUILDNG MACHINE Fned Dec. 1, 1941 Aio sheets-sheet s De 14, 1943 .IA. McMAHoN Erm. 2,336,739

HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dep. 1, 1941 zal I/ mz if To en/EK Dec. 14,1943. J. A. McMAHoN ETA). 2,336,739

4HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 1o sieets-sheetA 5 @n I l 6.an l

A 1o sheets-sheet 6 irrn/PNEK DSC- 14, 1943- J. A. McMAHoN ETAL HEELBUILDlNG MACHINE Filed Dec. 1. 1941 Dec. 14, 1943. J. A. McMAHoN'ETAL`HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dec. l1, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 14,1943. J. A. McMAHoN Erm..

BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 Dc. 14', 1943. A MCMAHQN'YET All,2,336,739

HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dee. 1, 1941 1o sheets-sheet 9.

,1" 7747 77 k 227 x 5 74 I Jr-- fi A 1 I I l 85 l 6g 54@ 9.9 .I I 7/ V 7De@ 14 1943 '.1. A. McMAHoN x-:r-'AL 2,336,739

HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed Dec, l, 1941 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 Mo.,assignors to Joh Dalias, Tex.,

n E. Mitchell Company, a corporation of Missouri Application December 1,1941, Serial No. 421,108

21 Claims.

The general object of this invention is to provide a novel heel buildingmachine which in design and operation will enable various types andcharacters of heels to be built thereon which, in ordinary practice,would require the use of four diiierent machines. Thus at the presenttime, in the same factory, there may be found in operation a whole liftmachine, a randing machine, a machine for building leather orcombination heels of all types for womens shoes, and a rubber heelspotting machine; that is, a machine for applying rubber heels to heelblanks. Some of these machines are capable of use in more than onecapacity. For example, a heel blank consistin T oi a Whole lift and ahalf lift, cr of a Whole lift and a Whole rand, can be built either onthe Whole lift machine or on the randing machine; a heel blankconsisting of a Whole lift, a half lift and a half rand, or of a halflift and a three-piece lift, can be built on the randing machine; aWomans decked heel, composed of Whole lifts and wedge lifts can be builton the whole lift machine or on the machine designed especially forbuilding heels for Womens shoes. But whole lift heels for mens shoes areonly built on the Whole lift machine, and heel blanks consisting of aleather base and rubber heel are only built on the rubber heel spottingmachine.

Now a machine constructed according to our invention will enable all thetypes of heels, or heel blanks, referred to, to be built thereon,requiring, in some cases, momentary adjustment for height, and inothers, slight re-arrangement ci the heel forming mechanism, accordingto the size, shape, or style of heel being built, both of which can bereadily and expeditiously made, and the means for permitting thesechanges in the set-up oi the machine being an important part of theinvention.

rlhe machine, as to its dominant features, is characterized by anendless conveyor composed of a relatively large number of pivotallyconnected clamp carriers; novel heel forming mechanisrn; an adjustableclamping plate on each clamp carrier; heel discharging mechanism, andretracting mechanism for the heel forming and heel dischargingmechanisms; and a plurality of mechanisms placed in sequential operationby a single action of the operator, preferably by depressing a foottreadle, and operating automatically to move the heel former inward to aposition to cause a built-up heel-blank to be placed on a clamp carrierat the completion of each stage of movement of the conveyor; to forcethe amping plate into clamping engagement with the heel-blank; to returnthe heel former to its original position; to unclamp a vnishedheelblank, discharge it from the machine, and return the dischargingdevice to its original position; and finally, to impart a single stagemovement to the conveyor to bring `to rest an empty clamp carrieropposite the heel former, i. e., in position to have a freshly builtheel-blank positioned thereon.

Embodied in the machine is a main drive shaft provided with a clutchoperated by the foot treadle, and a cam shaft having a number of camsthereon which actuate most of the mechanisms above referred to, andwhich is rotated through a single cycle from the main drive shaft eachtime the treadle is momentarily depressed to close the clutch.

The power for causing the travel of the endless conveyor in theembodiment of the invention herein shown, is derived from coil springs,which are extended and then allowed to contract in each actuation of thetreadle. lt is within the contemplation of the invention, however, toactuate the endless conveyor at will from the main drive shaft in amanner similar to that in which the cam shaft is rotated from the driveshaft; that is, by the use of conventional clutch mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a plan View of a machineconstructed according to our invention, the containers, or bins, for thelifts to be pasted, assembled and clamped being omitted for clearness ofillustration;`

Fig. 2 is a View in iront elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a View in end elevation, viewed from the left-hand end of themachine;

Fig` 5 is a similar view, looking toward the right-hand end of themachine;

Fig. 6 is a broken cross-section, taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a similar View, taken on the line 'i-'l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a similar view, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a similar view, taken on the line 8--9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. l0 is a similar View taken on the line l t-l il of Fig. 3;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line il-H of Fig.l;

Fig. l2 is a broken plan View of the operatingV mechanism shown at theleft of Fig. 1, showing the stop mechanism in a released position;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the clamp adjustinggauge shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 14 is a broken sectional enlargement of the clutch mechanism shownin Fig. '1;

Fig. 15 is a plan View of the same;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-I6 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale of theheel-building and delivering mechanism, the clamping mechanism appearingat the rear being broken off;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan View taken on the staggered line IB-IB ofFigs. 17 and 20;

Fig. 19 is a horizontal section taken on the staggered line ISE- I9 ofFigs. 17 and 20;

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line J- 2li of Fig.17, the heel-building mechanism, or heel former, being in its normal, oroutward, position;

Fig. 21 is a horizontal section taken on the staggered line 2I-2I ofFigs. 17 and 20;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 20, the heel former being shown in itsinward, or delivering, position, and the operating parts in the positionto which they have been moved for clamping the heel-blank;

Fig. 23 is a view in front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one ofthe heel-blank clamping members and carriers, of which, in the presentmachine, forty-two are employed, as shown by Fig. i; these clampcarriers are connected together and each is provided with wheels toenable it to travel over rails, a portion of one of which is shown inthe iigure; as is also a clamped heel-blank;

Fig. 24 is a view in side elevation of a clamp carrier and clampedheel-blank, the supporting rails being shown in section;

Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 25--25 of Fig.23;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of Fig.23, and which, in effect, is a plan view of one of the clamping plates;

Fig. 2'7 is a broken vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale, takenon the staggered line 2'I-2I of Fig. 23;

Fig. 28 is a horizontal section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 29 is a similar section on the line 29--29 -of Fig. 23;

Fig. 30 is a detached sectional View on the line BIJ-38 of Fig, 24;

Fi-g. 31 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale of one of theheel-blank clamps and carriers, with a heel-blank clamped therein, as itappears upon arrival at the discharge station, the figure being, ineffect, a section taken on the line 3I-3I 0f Fig. 33;

Fig. 32 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 32-32 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33-33 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 34 is a view in sectional elevation taken on the line 311-34 ofFig. 32;

Fig. 35 is a View similar to Fig. 32, but showing the clamping plateraised and a heel discharged by an ejecting device; and

Fig. 36 is a fragmentary plan View, partly in section, of the heelforming and guiding mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 5thereof, the numeral I indicates the front supporting standards, and 2the rear supporting standards of the frame of the machine, which frameis substantially rectangular in shape. Connecting these standards atopposite ends of the frame are frame bars 3, 3, Fig. Li, and 4, Fig. 5.Mounted in bearings on the rear standards 2 is the main drive shaft 5,on one end of which is secured a pulley 6 which is driven by a belt 'Ifrom a source of power (not shown). Beside pulley 5 is mounted on theshaft a loose pulley B, a belt shifter 9 being employed to shift thebelt from one pulley to the other, according to whether the machine isto be driven, or its motion stopped. Mounted on the drive shaft 5 nearits opposite end is a clutch Il] (Fig. 3) comprising a loose clutchmember II (Fig. 6) and a fast clutch member I2 (Fig. 7). The numeral i3(Fig. 2) indicates a foot treadle, to be actuated at will by anoperator, which is secured at its inner end on a rock-shaft I4 pivotallysupported in hangars l5 depending from a cross-beam I5 secured at itsends to, and extending between, the front standards I of the frame. Alsosecured on rock-shaft I4 adjacent the head of the treadle is arocker-arm II, extending downward from the rock-shaft, and pivotallyconnected at its lower end to one end of a connecting bar i8, the otherend 0f which is secured to a depending rocker-arm I9, the upper end ofwhich is secured to a rock-shaft 2S, supported in bearings 2I on thelower frame bars 3 and d, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 6. Thelower end of rocker arm I9 is pivotally connected to one end of aconnecting bar 22, the other end of which is pivotally connected to thelower end of a rocker-arm 23, which depends from and is integral with acircular cam member 24 (Figs. 3 and 6), the outer face of which isprovided with cam surfaces 25 working against complemental cam surfaceson a fixed cam member 26 mounted on the frame of the machine. The cammember 24 s loosely mounted on the drive shaft 5 and abuts against thehub 21 of a sprocket gear 28, said hub and gear being loose on shaft 5.When the treadle I3 is depressed, the connecting bar I8 is moved to therear, moving the rocker arm I, connecting bar 22 and rocker-arm 23 inthe same direction. This movement causes the cam member 24 to be rotatedand the cam surfaces 25 to ride over the complemental cam surfaces onthe iixed cam member 26, thereby moving its hub 21 into engagement withthe side of the sprocket gear 28 and moving the latter inward, or towardthe right in Fig. 3, causing the loose clutch member II to be moved intofrictional engagement With the fast clutch member I2, which isconstantly rotated by the drive shaft 5. The loose clutch member I I andthe sprocket gear 28 have a common hub 29, so that when the loose clutchmember is rotated by engagement with the fast clutch member l2 thesprocket gear 28 will be caused to be rotated. Secured on a cross-shaft3i) (Figs. 5 and 6), supported in bearings 36a mounted on the lowerframe bars 3 and 4, is a sprocket gear 3|, considerably larger indiameter than the sprocket gear 23, and which is operatively connectedto the latter by means of a sprocket chain 32. Secured on the inner side0f the sprocket 3l is a small sprocket wheel 33 (Fig. '7) Located abovethe cross-shaft 3i) and rotatably mounted in bearings Slla (Fig. 10) inthe side frame members of .the machine, is a cam shaft 34 on Which isloosely mounted a relatively large sprocket wheel 35 which isoperatively connected to the sprocket wheel 33 by a sprocket chain 35.Mounted on this cam shaft tl are a number of cams to be latei`described, and which are brought into operation in a given order, sothat when the cam shaft is rotated the various operations of the machinewill be caused to occur in a given scquence, as will later appear. Thenumeral 3l (Fig. 6) indicates a coil spring, one end of which is securedto the rock-shaft lli and the other to the rocker-arm iii. In theoperation of the machine, the treadle i3 is held in a depressed positiononly momentarily, and when released, the spring 3l, which had beenplaced under tension when the treadle was depressed, operates to returnthe treadle and the cam faces 25 to normal lposition, thereby permittingthe loose clutch member i l to separate from the fast clutch member IL.The return movement of the treadle i3 is arrested by an adjustable stopscrew 3c (Fig. 6), which is adapted to be engaged by the lower end ofrocker-arm is. The fixed clutch member 26 may be secured in adjustedpositions by means of a simple clamp 33 (Fig. 3)

Referring briefly to Figs. l'?, 20, 22 and 36, the heel lifts iii arerst pasted and then assembled on a base plate il with their breast endsinserted. between two sets of heel forming plates 2, di, mounted insuperimposed relation in holders d3 and clamped therein by means of setscrews fili.

in building up a heel-blank according to the present invention, thelifts are assembled in order from the bot-toni, or tread portion, to theupper portion, or base, of the heel. To avoic eoniusion, it should beste-.ted that the smallest lift, or that the bottom of the heel when thelatter is secured on the shoe, is referred to in the art as the topliit, owing to the tact that ordinarily heelbianks are built up from thelargest portion of the heel to the smallest, or tread portion, whichbecomes the upper end of the heel as it is built, and hence the last andsmallest iii secured on the heel is referred to as the top lift.

To enable the heel-blanks to be built up in the manner herein shown anddescribed, each of the h el ing plates fi?. (Fig. 35) is provided on itsinner end with a portion [32a which serves as a breast plate, and withinward-extending projections [i5 which diverge from each other in anupward direction to form a space corresponding to the shape or" the heelat the sides of the breast. Each oi the plates 6L is approximately thethickness ci an average heel lift, the two series orn projections rilthus forming stepped recesses for reeel ts in order from the smallest tolargest liit employed in building the heel plank. The holders aremounted on the inner ond of a movable support it which is mounted to inguides 35a over the top oi the base plate ril. The support ce carryinethe holders with the heel forming plates clamped therein willhereinafter be referred to as the heel former. After a heel-blank beenassemhled on the base plate el, the nrst operation that occurs upondepressing treadle i3 is the nievenient of this heel former inward tocarry the assembled heel-blank into position on a travelh el clampcarrier l'i (Fig. 22), and the mechanism for eieoting this operationwill nov: be described.

Secured on the cain sha-it 3d (Fig. is a can :i8 having a cam groove isformed in one face thereof. Pivoted at its lower end on the shaft isactuating lever 5d, the upper end oi which pivotaily connected at E! tothe inner end of a connecting rod 52, the other end of bearings 'i2 onthe frame.

which is pivotally connected at 53 (Fig. 22) to the lower end of acrank-arm 54, the upper end of which is secured on a rock-shaft 55mounted in bearings 5511 at the iront of the machine. A second crank-armSb is similarly secured on rock-shaft 55 and its upper end is pivotallyconnected to one end of a link 55, the other end of which link ispivotally connected to a lug 5l carried hy, and projecting downward fromthe bottom of the support til. As the cam shaft 35i is rotated throughthe medium of sprocket 35 and sprocket chain from the sprocket 33, aspreviously described, the cam i3 will be turned. Mounted on theactuating lever 5t is a roller 58 which engages in the cam groove di?,and as the high part of this cam groove passes over the roller dil theactuating lever 5@ will be moved toward the front of the machine,thereby partially rotating rock-shaft 55 and moving the crank-arms 5dand ilb from the position shown in Fig. 20 to that shown in Fig. 22, andthus moving a heel former inward and rnoving the heel-blank from thebase plate ll onto the bottom orn the clan-ip carrier il?. ln thecontinued revolution of cani 38, the low part of cam groove lil willengage roller 58 and return the heel former to the normal position shownin 20. nent operation that occurs is the clamping of the heel-blankdeposited as described above on the clamp carrier ill; and thisoperation Will now be described, referring, iirst, particularly to Figs.7 and 8.

Pivotally mounted on a cross-shaft 59 located at the rear part of themachine is a lever arm cil which extends weil toward the front of thenrachine and at its inner end is biiurcated, as ndicated in Figs. l, 18,19 and 21, the two arms i of this bifurcated end being connected,repectively, at 52 to the upper ends of two links E33 loca-ted onopposite sides of a slide bar, or plunger, (Fig. 20), and beingconnected at their lower ends to a cross-pin 65 passing through saidbar. The plunger @il is slidably mounted in bearings 6B mounted on theframe of the machine. Secured on the cam shaft s@ is a cam Si, theperipheral face of which normally engages a wea-r plate 68 secured onthe under side of the lever arm As the cam E? rotates, its high pointpassing under and in engagement with wear plate i; raises the inner endof lever arm @il which in turn, through links 63, raises the plungerwhich operates to actuate the clamping mechanism, illustrated in Figs.17 to 35, and which will now be described.

The numeral 59 (Figs. 20 and 22) indicates a rack-bar which is slidablymounted for vertical movement in guides lo secured on the frame ci themachine, and the teeth of which are in mesh with a spur gear 'ilrotatably mounted in lixed The numeral i3 indicates a companion parallelrack-bar, also slidably mounted for vertical movement frame guiderneinbers lil, and the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of spurgear 'il on the side opposite that engaged by the teeth of rackbar $9.Projecting outwardly from the central p rtion rack-bar 69 is an integralboss 15, which is interiorly screw-threaded to receive a screw-threadedrod l, which is located above and in line with the slide bar ed. Thescrewthreaded rod 'iii is vertically adjustable, for a purpose laterexplained, but its normal position. may be assumed to be that shown byrig. 2i).

Each of the heel clamp carriers previously referred to is provided onits under side with rollers '11, shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 23to 25, which run on tracks 18 supported on the frame of the machine, andwhich extend entirely around the machine, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2.Each of the clamp carriers 4l is provided at one corner on its innerside with a pair of apertured lugs 19 (Fig. 1) which are circular inshape, and which receive between them an apertured lug on the corner ofan adjacent carrier, the interlocking lugs receiving a pivot pin 89, allof the carriers thus connected forming an endless-chain conveyor.Slidably mounted in the sides of each clamp carrier are two parallelbars 8l which are connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 82 and attheir lower ends by a cross-bar 83 (Figs. 23, 24 and 31), thus providinga slidable clamping frame. Secured at their upper ends in, andprojecting well below the under side of each carrier 4?, are twoparallel rods 84, which are connected at their lower ends by a cross-bar85. Formed integral with the cross-bar B3 at each end thereof,respectively, are two sleeves 85 which are slidably mounted on the rods84. Loosely mounted in the cross-bar 32 of each carrier is a pin 81, thehead 81e of which engages the upper side of the cross-bar 82, and actsas a stop, or retaining member. Pivotally mounted at 88 in a boss 89 onthe lower end of pin 81 is an adjustable clamp plate Sil; and a coilspring 9i, surrounding the pin, is interposed between boss 89 and theunder side vof cross-bar 82'. The clamp plate 9i) is illustrated inFigs. 26 and 27, and may be briefly described as comprising the pivctedplate itself, which is yieldingly held in the inclined position shown bymeans of a small coil spring S2 interposed between the boss 89 and anabutment at the breast end of the plate, permitting the plate toaccommodate itself to various inclinations at the base of decked heels,as shown particularly in Figs. 24, 25 and 32. Also, pivotally mounted onthe pivot 88, in a rectangular recess S3 provided in plate Se, is anindependently-movable plate 94, normally held flush with the face of theclamp plate by means of a leaf spring S5. When the clamp plate is forceddownward into engagement with the base of a heel-blank, indicated in theviews where shown by the letter H, plate 9A will be enabled to engagethe hollowed out portion` of the base at the breast of the heel toafford a rm engagement of the clamp plate with the base of the heel, asillustrated in Fig. 27. In such position, the breast end of the plate 94will project a greater or less distance below the face of the clampplate 90, depending upon the extent to which the base lift has beengouged out. If a heel-blank with a perfectly flat base is clamped, as inheels for mens shoes, plate 94 will remain flush with the face of theclamp plate. This type of pressure plate is fully described and claimedin the patent to Dennis Parks, No. 2,175,560, dated October 17, 1939.For lowering and raising the clamp plate 99, the following mechanism isprovided.

Secured at its upper end in a boss 95 on the under side of the clampcarrier 4'! is a rack-bar 9'! (Figs. 22, 25, 3l, 32 and 35) which at itslower end is secured in the cross-bai" 85, centrally thereof. Projectingdownward from the central portion of the cross-bar 83 are two parallelarms 98 (Fig. 30) between which is rotatably mounted a pinion 99 on across-pin l ill?. Pivotally mounted between arms S3 at their lower endsis a ratchet i! which normally engages the teeth of pinion 99 and isyieldingly held in such engagement by downward pressure of a coil spring|82 mounted in a housing H33 provided on cross-bar 83 and engaging atail piece 104 on said ratchet.

Assuming the operator has built up a heelolank on base plate 4l, hedepresses foot treadle i3, and through the mechanism previouslydescribed, and shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6, forces the looseclutch member il into engagement with the fast clutch member I2 which,through the sprocket and chain driving mechanism also previouslydescribed, places cam shaft 34 in rotation. Cam 43 on said shaft (Fig.9) now operates to move the heel former from the position shown in Fig.20 to that shown in Fig. 22 and deposit the heel-blank on clamp carrier41. Cam 'i (Fig. 8) now operates to raise the outer end of lever arm 5S,which by means of, links 63 raises plunger te until its upper end en-vgages the lower end of screw-threaded rod 16 and raises it, and with itthe rack-bar 69 by reason of the engagement of the screw-threaded rodwith lug 75 on the rack-bar. As the latter moves upward, it causes spurgear 'H to be rotated counterclockwise and thus move rack-bar 13 in adownward direction. Projecting outward from the upper end of thisrack-bar is an arm |05 which extends over the cross-bar S3 and normallyat some distance above the same, as shown by Fig. 20, and in thedownward movement of rackbar Gil engages said cross-bar and through themedium of slidably mounted bars Si draws crossbar 82 downward to carrythe clamp plate @il into engagement with the upper side of the heelblank(Figs. 23-25) and then to place spring 9| under tension to cause it toexert the proper pressure on the clamp plate. Ratchet lill, which rodeover the teeth of pinion 99 as the latter was rotated by engagement withthe teeth of rackbar 97 in the downward movement of the clamping frame,now engages behind a tooth of the pinion and prevents the latter frombeing rotated in the opposite direction and thus securely locks theclamp in its clamped position. Just prior to the descent of the clampingplate on the heelblank, the low part of cam 48 will pass over roller 58and cause the heel former to be returned to the position shown in Fig`20. As each heel-blank is clamped it is moved forward, in the operationof the machine, a distance sucient to bring an empty clamp carrieropposite the base plate 4|, while at substantially the same time aclamped heel-blank, which has travelled around the entire machine inorder to give the paste between the lifts time to set, and arrived at adischarge point, or chute, |06 (Fig. 1), will be released and ejectedfrom its clamp carrier immediately beyond the empty carrier moved intoposition, the clamp carrier from which the heel has been dischargedbecoming the empty carrier next to receive a heel-blank.

All the operations of the machine occur in stages, and while the clutchmembers Il and I2 are momentarily held in engagement by depression oftreadle I3. However, the time interval between the various operations isvery slight, depending upon the setting of the cams 0n the cam shaft,

and in some instances, as in the clamping of a fresh heel-blank and thedischarge of a completed heel, the two actions occur almostsimultaneously. The mechanisms for effecting the travel in stages of theendless series of connected clamp carriers, the release of the clamp ofa completed heel arriving opposite the chute |05, and the ejection of.such heel from its carrier will next be described in order.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine is provided at opposite ends with twoupright stub shafts indicated, respectively, by the numerals I'l and|68, and rotatably mounted on these shafts are two large sprocket wheelsI @I3 and IIIIIa which are provided in their peripheries withequidistant recesses III) adapted to receive the lugs 'I9 on the cornersof the clamp carriers 47, which thus acts as an endless-chain carrier,or conveyor. Fixedly secured to the hub of each of the wheels I |39, IG9a, is a ratchet wheel I I I, shown more clearly in Fig. I2, from eachof which projects a crank-arm IIE, the outer ends of these crank-armsbeing connected to opposite ends of a connecting rod IIB, which isprovided near the sprocket wheel |69 on its outer side with a camsurface I III. Mounted on each of the arms I I2 is a ratchet I I5, whichis mounted in keepers IIt, and yieldingly held in engagement with theteeth of the ratchet wheel II I by a coil spring III. Projecting inwardfrom connecting rod III, near its left-hand end as shown in Fig. 1, isan arm IIB to which are secured the ends of two coil springs H9, theopposite ends of which are secured toa fixed arm 29 extending inwardfrom a longitudinal frame member IEI. Pivotally mounted on the framemember II is a stop-arm E22 provided on its outer end with a roller I 23which is normally pressed toward the periphery or" wheel I E39 by meansof a spring Id (Fig. 12). Normally, roller |23 rests in one or the otherof the recesses II@ of wheel IGQ, which position it is caused to take,as later explained, to stop the rotation of the wheel, and hence thernc-vement of the endless series of clamp carriers. Rotatably mounted ina bracket IE5 on the under side of stop-arm |22 is a roller I whichnormally engages the Lipper side of connecting rod IIS beyond the camsurface IIS, and is adapted to be engaged by said cani surface to raisestop-arm IZIZ and release roller ISIS from engagement with a recess III!to permit wheel ISS to be rotated. The means for effecting a partialrotation of wheel Idd and causing a single rotation of cam shaft S13when the foot treadle I3 is depressed, will now be described. Secured onthe rock-shaft 2d, previously referred to is a second rocker-arm, I2?(Fig. 7) extending inward from the rock-shaft in an upwardly-inclineddirection, and pivotally mounted at its lower end 'about centrally ofthis rocker-arm, as indicated at i253, is an upright arm |29, which nearits upper end is provided with a shoulder ISII (Fig. i4) which normallyengages under a lug (Fig. l5) provided at the outer end of aclutchcontrol bar |32 pivotally mounted at its inner end at |33 on afront frame member of the machine.

The arm IE is normally held with its shoulder l under lug ISI by meansof a coil spring IS-'I secured at its upper end to the inner side ofsaid arm and at its lower end tothe outer end of rocker arm |271. Thesprocket gear 3? previously referred to is provided on one side .with ahub |35, provided around its periphery with a plurality (usually three)of lateral recesses I 3S (Figs. l5 and 16), each of which is providedwith an inclined edge |37 to facilitate the entrance into the recess ofa rectangular clutch pin |38 which is slidably mounted in a clutch ringISS secured on the cam shaft 3Q and having a hub Ille provided with anopen peripheral recess lei which is adapted to slidably receive theinner end of clutch pin It. The inner end portion of this clutch pin isprovided on its outer side (the upper side 'as shown in Fig. 15) with atransverse recess H22 provided at one end and on one side with aninclined surface IflS. The lug ISI is formed with a rectangularprojection I It adapted to engage in the recess I 42, said projectionhaving a downwardly inclined projection MI5 having an inclined side M6designed to cooperate with the inclined surface M3 of the clutch pin.The clutch pin |38 is normally held in a retracted position, or thatshown in Fig. l5, by engagement of the projection ltd in its recess |42.In this position, one side of the inner end of the clutch pin will haveengaged a shoulder Il on lug ISI to arrest further movement of theclutch ring. A coil spring |438 (Fig. 16) housed in a recess in theinner end portion of the clutch pin, and held under tension by a keeperIt secured on the inner end of hub |136, operates to force the clutchpin into one or the other of the recesses I 1whenever the clutch controlbar .52 is. raised to release said clutch pin.

Secured on the camshaft 34 is a cam ISI? (Fig. i6), and below this camis a lever arm I5I which is pivotally mounted at its innerend at I5| ona front frame member of the machine. Mounted on the upper side of thislever arm is a wear yplate E52 which, when the cam shaft 34 is rotated,will be engaged by the high portion of cam Idd and cause the outer endof lever arm I5! to Vbe depressed. Pivotally connected at its lower endI 53 to the outer end of lever arm I5I is a pull rod I 5d, which at itsupper end is pivotally connected at Idd (Figs. 10 and 1l) with one arm|56 of a bellcrank lever I5?, pivotally mounted at itsI elbow at |53 onthe lower .end of a support |59 secured at its upper end to the frame ofthe machine. The other arm ISI? is pivotally connected at its upper endto one end of a link II, the other end of which is pivotally connectedto a boss |52 secured 'on the connecting rod I I3.

lt will now be seen that when foot treadle I3 is depressed to turnrock-shaft 2t, rocker-arm IEI will cause upright armIEI to be raised,and

vthe engagement of its shoulder' ISI) with lug ISI will lift itsprojection I ll out oftherecess Iii? in the clutch pin and spring Iddwill force said clutch pin outward against the face of hubv |35 Where itwill enter one or the other of the recesses |36 as soon as it is rotatedto a position opposite the end of the pin. Clutch ring |35 will now beplaced in rotation thereby causing the rotation of cam shaft, duringwhich rotation the clutchcontrol bar |32 will be held in an elevatedposi-- tion, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 14. As the cam shaftrotates, the high point of cam I5@ will engage wear plate |52 and forcethe outer end of lever arm I5I downward, causing pull rod Isl to turnbell-crank leverV |51 to the left (Fig. ll), and moving connecting rodIIS in the same direction, or from the position shown in Fig. 1 to thatshown in Fig. 12. In this movement of the connecting rod ratchets IISwill be moved by crank arms H2 over the teeth of ratchet wheels III andfinally engage behind oneof said teeth, as shown as to one of saidratchets in Fig.

l2. This movement of connecting rod M3 toward the left, as shown in Fig.1, places coil springs IIS under tension by stretching, or extending,them, and at the same time causes cam surface I I4 thereon to ride underroller |25 (Fig. l2) and raise stop-arm E22, disengaging its roller |23from engagement with a recess I III in sprocket wheel |59. When the lowpoint of cam I5@ (Fig. l0) reaches wear plate |52, the power stored insprings IIS by the previous movement will be eX- erted to moveconnecting rod I I 3 to the right, thereby, through the ratchetmechanism described, turning the wheels It and It@ clockwise and causingthe movement in the same direction of the endless series of clampcarriers.

"The movement to the right of connecting rod I|3 also acts to releasestop-arm |22, which is forced downward by its spring to enable itsroller |23 to engage in a recess ||8 in sprocket wheel |89 succeedingthat in which it had previously rested, and thus stop the rotation ofthe sprocket wheels and movement of the endless carrier. In addition tothe positive stop of sprocket wheel |89 just described, it is desirable,also, to arrest the rotation of shaft 38 at the same time. To this endwe provide the brake mechanism shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 18. Secured onshaft 38 is a brake drum |63, surrounding the upper side of which is abrake band |34 anchored at one end on a bolt |55 mounted in a plate |98secured on the frame, and having its other end bent at an angle andapertured to loosely receive a rod |91 having a nut |88 on its upperend, between which and the apertured end of the brake band is confined acoil spring |99. A nut |18 is mounted on rod |91 below the apertured endof the brake band to hold it in position on the rod. The lower end ofrod |61 is connected to the outer end of a short rocker-arm I1| securedon a rock-shaft 29. When the treadle I3 is depressed to turn rock-shaft28, and through the mechanism which has been described to cause camshaft 34 to be rotated, the rocker-arm I1| will raise pin |91 andrelease pressure of spring |89 on the brake band and also slightly raisethe end of the latter, permitting free rotation of shaft 38. When theoperator releases pressure on the foot treadle, spring 31 (Fig. 6) turnsthe rock-shaft and the rocker-arm I1I back to normal position, and thebrake band is applied to the brake drum |93 under pressure of spring|69. The automatic release of the clutch pin |38 from a recess |38 inthe hub of sprocket gear 35 is effected in the following manner:

The clutch-control bar |32 (Fig. 1) is always subject to the downwardpull of a coil spring H2, which is secured at its upper end in said barand at its lower end to a lug |13, which is convenient-I ly looselymounted on rock-shaft 28. The cam ring |39 (Fig. 14) is provided in itsperiphery with a curved cam groove |14, shown by dotted lines, and onone side of the upright arm |29 there is rotatably mounted at |15 aroller |19, also shown by dotted lines. When the cam ring is locked tothe sprocket gear 35 by clutch pin |38 and placed in rotation, the camgroove acting on roller |18 forces the upper end of arm |29 outward andmoves shoulder |38 from under lug |3I, permitting clutch-control bar tofall so that its projecting portion |44, |45, will rest on the peripheryof hub |48. As the cam ring |39 nears the completion of its revolution,the inclined projection |45 will engage the inclined surface |43 of theclutch pin and force its withdrawal from the recess |38 in which it wasengaged, thereby opening the clutch, and the inner end of the clutch pinwill engage shoulder |41 on lug ISI and stop further rotation of the camring. At the same time with the above operations, cam groove |14 willpass under roller |16 and permit spring |34 to draw arm |29 inward tobring its shoulder |38 under lug |3|.

The movement and stoppage of the endless carrier above described willhave brought a clamped and dried heel blank to rest opposite the openingto the chute |86 (Figs. 1 and 2), where it is to be descharged. Theoperations of unclamping the heel blank and eecting its discharge willnow be described.

Referring to Figs. 33 to 35, inclusive, the riu merals |11, |11,indicate two parallel rack-bars which are mounted for vertical movementin guides |18 connected at top and bottom, as indicated at |19, toconstitute a guide frame, which is bolted at its upper and lower ends toangle irons |89 .on the frame of the machine. The numeral ISI indicatesa shaft rotatably mounted in bearings |82 on the guide frame, on eachend of which is secured a pinion |83, |84, respective- 1y, which pinionsare in mesh with the rack-bars |11, |11. The purpose of these pinions isto transmit motion from the rack-bar |11a to the rack-bar |11. Securedon the rack-bar |11 is a contact member |85 having a vertical arm |85and a horizontal arm |81, the latter being located under the ratchet|8I, and the vertical arm |83 under the tail piece |84 of said ratchet.Secured on the lower end of the rack-bar |112L is a Ibracket |88 towhich is pivotally connected the lower end of a link |89, the upper endof which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a lever yarm |98(Fig. 6), which is pivotally mounted on the cross-shaft 59 previouslyreferred to. Secured on the under side of lever arm |98 is a wear plate|9I, which normally rests upon the low point of a cam |92 secured oncrank-shaft 34. Adjacent the cam |92, and conveniently formed integralwith its hub |93, is a smaller and more abrupt-acting cam |94. Looselymounted at its lower end on shaft 38 is a lever arm |95, the up per endof which is pivotally connected at |98 to a push-rod |91, which ispivotally connected at |98 to the rear end of a slide-bar |99, operatingin a grooved guide member 288 mounted on the frame of the machine (Fig.34). The slide-bar |99 is provided at its forward end with an ejector29|. Lever arm |95 is provided on its inner side with a wear plate 282for contact by cam |94, which is normally held in engagement with saidcam, or its hub, by means of a coil spring 283 (Figs.` 1 and 6) securedat one end to the upper end of arm |95 and its other end to the framemember |2I.

When cam shaft 34 is placed in operation, and a finished heel blank isbrought to rest opposite the chute |88, cam |92 (Fig. 6) will have beenturned to raise the outer end of lever arm |98 and thereby raiserack-bar. |11EL (Fig. 35) through pinions |84 and |35 raising rack-bar|11. In this movement, Contact arm |36 will engage the tail piece |84 ofratchet IlI and release it from engagement with pinion 99, after whichcontact arm |81 will engage the lower ends of arms 98, between which thepinion is mounted, and raise cro-ss-bar 83 and, through bars 8| andcross-bar 82, clamp plate 98, as will be readily apparent by comparingFig. 32 with Fig. 35. Almost simultaneously with the above action, thehigh point of cam |94 (Fig. 6) acts on lever arm |95 to rapidly lmovethe push rod |91 forward, and the ejector 29| engages the heel blank anddischarges it into chute |85.

Referring particularly to Figs. 23 and 31, there is secured at each endon the front side of crossbar 83 a friction spring 284, which in itscentral portion bears against the rear side of rack-bar 91 andfrictionally holds the clamping frame and clamp plate 98 in the extremeupward position shown in Fig. 35 until arm |85 again engages the upperside of cross-bar 33 (Figs. 29 and 22) and again forces the clamp plate98 into engagement with a freshly built heel blank. When, in thecontinued rotation of cam shaft 34 rcam |94 (Fig.` 6) passes out ofengagement with the wear plate 232 on lever arm 55, the spring 25Sreturns push-rod it? to normal position, or that shown in said ngure. Wewill now describe the method of building heel blanks and maintaining thepasted lifts in their proper assembled position while being clamped andduring a portion of the movement of the endless carrier, first premisingthat the particular mechanism involved is embodied in a separateapplication for patent.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, there is mounted on a support, or table, 235at the front of the machine a paste applying device 2% of any preferredconstruction, but as here shown comprising a lower roller 2li? and anupper roller 298 between which the lifts are passed to receive paste ina well known manner. The lower roller rotates in a paste pot 239, andsupplies paste to the upper roller, the paste being maintained in aiiuid condition by an electric heater (not shown) supplied with currentby a conductor 2id. The roller till is rotated by a shaft 2li (Fig. 6)having a pulley 2l2 driven by a belt El from a pulley d (Fig. 3) ondrive shaft 5. As each lift is passed between the applying device to besupplied with paste, it is positioned with its breast against theheel-forming plates and its sides against the respective rejections Lie,and when the required number of lifts have been superimposed one uponthe other to form the heel-blank, the latter is ready to be moved onto aclamp carrier to be clamped by the plate 99, as previously described.

Eeierrincr now to Figs. l and 36, a series of heel-engaging back-bars2l5 are shown mounted in superimposed relation immediately behind theline followed in their movement by the inner, or rounded, sides of theheel-blanks as they are moved beyond (to the left of) the heel former l5by the travelling clamp carriers fil'. ljach of these bars is providedon its inner side with two arms Zi'i which are inserted in vkeepers 2l?and secured in position by clamp screws ,253. Lilie the heel-formingplates 42, these back-bars are approximately the thickness or an averageeel lift, and they are positioned in stepped relation to conform exactlyto the incline of the rounded side of a decke-d heel-blank. Whentheheel-blank is moved inward by the heel former to be clamped, the liftsat its rounded side will engage the stepped back-bars 2l5 and will beheld from displacement when clamped. As shown by the drawings, one endof the assembled back-bars is directly opposite the heel former, and thefreshly clamped heel-blank will slide alon the back-bars as its clampscarrier is moved in stages beyond its position opposite the heel former.As shown by Fig. l, the back-bars are long eno-ugh to engage fourheel-blanks at one time, so that four separate movements of the endlesscarrier will occ-ur before a freshlyclamped heel-blank is moved beyond,and out of engagement with, the back-bars. This gives the paste betweenthe lifts time to partially set, so that there is no danger of the liftsbecoming displaced under the clamping pressure as the heelblank iscarried around the machine to the discharge point.

For minimizing the jar to the machine occasioned by the stoppage ofsprocket wheel ll when one of its recesses IES is engaged by stoparm 22,we provide the dash pot arrangement shown in Figs. i and l2. rThenumeral EES indicates a cylinder pivotally connected at its inner end tothe frame of the machinain which rollers of the paste works a pistonhaving a piston rod projecting from its outer end. This end of thepiston rod is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 222i', which atits other end is pivotally connected to the frame member it! s indicatedat Pivotally connected at one end to the lever k22l 'toward its innerend is an arm 223, the other end of which is pivotally connected to theccnnecting rod H3, as indicated at d. Et ob vious that when theconnecting rod lill is moved to the left, in Fig. l, as previouslydescribed, the piston rod 22@ will be drawn out of the cylinder, andwhen said connecting rod is moved to the right by springs Sie, the airwill be compressed in cylinder M9, thereby absorbing the shock of theenga-gement betwee' stop-arm E22 and a recess lit.

We have heretofore referred to the fac" that the screw-threaded rod l@is adjustable, this feature will now be described, referring to 2, 3,18, 2G and 22.

Extending upward from, and forming a continuation of the screw-threadedred 'lo a rod 225 extending through a cylindrical guard 225 which at itslower end is connected to the upper end of rack-bar EQ, as shown atv22?, and at its upper end provides guide 228 for slidably receiving rod225. Mounted on the upper end of rod 225 is a cylindrical head 225 hai/ng on its upper end Va thumb screw Secured at their lower ends on theupper end of guard are two parallel arms 23@ provided with numberedgraduatio-ns, and secured on head 325i is an indicator 232 havingbifurcated ends sliding over the graduated arms 23E. By turningthumb-screw 238 in one direction or the other, the screwthreaded rod it,through its engagement in the screw-threaded boss l5, will be raised orlowered, as the case may be, thereby varying tie distance rack-bar S9will be raised when the lower end of screw-threaded rod 'i6 is engagedby plunger Sil, and consequently varying the distance rackbar i5carrying arm ich will be moved dot-1 ward. As the function of arm is tomove the clamping frame downward, it is obvious that extent of thedownward movement of plate 36 may be regulated by the means descriwaccording to the height of the heel-blanks being built. Such heightbeing known, the thumbscrew 2,35 is turned t-o move indicator to thecorresponding graduation on the arms Edi so that the proper throw ofclamp plate il@ will be secured.

For convenience of the operator, we niount above the machine a bin 23dopen at its front side and provided with a number of compartments forholding lifts of the various sizes required ior building a decked heel.rfhis bin is mounted on columns 2555 supported on the frame of themachine.

The organization, or set-up, of the machine herein shown and describedis that employed for building decked heels for ladies shoes. Asindicated in the opening part of the specification, however, differentset-ups of the machine may be provided for building various other typesof heels. For example, in building flat'heels, the back-bars 2id wouldbe entirely dispensed with, and the heel-forming plates be reduced innumber to, say, two or three, and the projections tti arranged withtheir engaging faces flush with each other, and separated the properdistance apartaccording to the width of the lifts being employed..Similaradiustmenis would tamed@ when rubber heels Were being cementedto the heel-blanks.

We Wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to theexact details of construction herein described and illustrated in thedrawings, except as may be required by certain of the appended claims,and that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement,organization and operation of the machine, or its elements, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endless seriesof carriers mounted to travel around the machine and past a loadingstation and a discharge station, and each of which carriers has a clampmounted thereon, a reciprocable heel former located at said loadingstation, a reciprocable ejector located at said discharge station,mechanism for operating said heel former to deposit a freshly builtheel-blank on one of said carriers, mechanism for clamping saidheel-blank, mechanism for causing a stage movement of the carriers tobring an empty one to rest at said loading station, and a carrier With aclamped heel-blank therein, which has travelled around the machine, torest at said discharge station, mechanism for unclamping saidheel-blank, and mechanism for operating said ejector to eject theheel-blank, a cam shaft adapted to be placed in rotation at the will ofthe operator, a series of cams thereon for operating said mechanisms insubstantially the order named, and automatic means for arresting therotation of said cam shaft at the end of a complete rotation thereof.

2. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally connected carriers each ofWhich has a depressible clamping member mounted thereon, said conveyorbeing arranged to travel around the machine and past a loading stationand a discharge station, a plurality of mechanisms operating,respectively, to deposit a freshly built heel-blank in one of saidcarriers, to clamp said heel-blank by depressing said clamping member,to cause a stage movement of the conveyor to bring an empty carrier torest at the loading station, and a clamped heel-blank, that has beencarried around the machine, to rest at the discharge station, to unclampsaid heelblank, and to eject the same from the machine, a main driveshaft having a clutch, a cam shaft, driving means including said clutchfor rotating the cam shaft from the drive shaft, automatic stopmechanism for the cam shaft, an operators treadle, means actuated bydepressing said treadle for closing said clutch and simultaneouslyreleasing said stop mechanism, whereby to permit rotation of said camshaft, a series of cams on said cam shaft operating to actuate saidplurality of mechanisms in substantially the order named, meansoperating on the release of said treadle to open said clutch, andautomatic means operating to restore said stop mechanism to its stopposition to arrest the rotation of the cam shaft at the end of acomplete rotation thereof.

3. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally connected carriers each ofwhich has a depressible clamping member mounted thereon, said carriersbeing arranged to travel around the machine and past a loading stationand a discharge station, a plurality of mechanisms operating,respectively, to deposit a freshly built heel-blank in one of saidcarriers, to clamp said heel-blank by depressing said clamping member,to cause a stage movement of the conveyor to bring an empty carrier torest at the loading station, and a clamped heel-blank, that has beencarried around the machine, to rest at the discharge station, to unclampsaid heelblank. and to eject the same from the machine, a main driveshaft having a clutch, a cam shaft having an automatic clutch, drivingmeans including said clutches for rotating the cam shaft from the driveshaft, an operators treadle, control means governing the opening andclosing of said automatic clutch, means actuated by depressing saidtreadle for closing said clutch and simultaneously releasing saidcontrol means to permit the cam shaft clutch to close, thereby causingthe cam shaft to be rotated, automatic means operating to restore saidcontrol means to a position to cause the cam shaft clutch to open, and astop on said control means for arresting the rotation of the cam shaftat the end of a complete rotation thereof.

4. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally connected carriers each ofwhich has a depressible clamping member mounted thereon, said carriersbeing arranged to travel around the machine and past a loading stationand a discharge station, a plurality of mechanisms operating,respectively, to deposit a freshly built 'neel-blank in one of saidcarriers, to clamp said heel blank by depressing said clamping member,to cause a stage movement of the conveyor to bring an empty carrier torest at the loading station, and a clamped heel-blank, that has beencarried around the machine, to rest at the discharge station, to unclampsaid heel-blank, and to eject the same from the machine, a main driveshaft having a clutch, a cam shaft having an automatic clutch, drivingmeans including said clutches for rotating the cam shaft from the driveshaft, an operators treadle, control means governing the opening andclosing of said automatic clutch, means actuated by depressing saidtreadle for closing said clutch and simultaneously releasing saidcontrol means to permit the cam shaft clutch to close, thereby causingthe cam shaft to be rotated, automatic means including a cam on said camshaft operating to restore said control means to a position to cause thecam shaft clutch to open, and automatic stop mechanism for arresting therotation of the cam shaft at the end of a complete rotation thereof.

5. A heel building machine comprising, in combination with the frame ofthe machine, a pair of relatively large, horizontally-disposed sprocketWheels mounted, respectively, at opposite ends of said frame, an endlessconveyor operatively mounted on said sprocket wheels and consisting of aseries of pivotally-connected traveling carriers each of which hasclamping mechanism mounted thereon, a drive-shaft having a frictionclutch, an operators treadle, mechanism actuated thereby on depressingand releasing the treadle to close and open said clutch, and a pluralityof automatic mechanisms, including a reciprocable heel former on whichheel-blanks are built up, placed in actuation on closing said clutch fordepositing a freshly built heel-blank in one of said carriers, foroperating its clamping mechanism to clamp the heel-blank, for turningone of said sprocket wheels, thereby causing the travel of the conveyor,and for releasing said clamping mechanism at a predetermined pointdistant from the heel formenin the travel of the conveyor, and automaticstop mechanism operating to lock said last-named sprocket wheel fromrotation and stop the movement of said conveyor as each carrier in turnarrives at said predetermined point.

6. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally-connected carriers mountedto travel around the machine in a horizontal plane and past a loadingstation and a discharge station, a vertically movable normally upwardlyurged clamping member mounted on each carrier, automatic mechanisms forcausing the travel of said conveyor and for arresting its movement assuccessive carriers arrive opposite said loading and discharge stations,respectively, automatic mechanism for depressing a clamping member atsaid loading station, automatic means on said clamping member forlocking it in its depressed position, automatic mechanism for releasingsaid locking mechanism and for raising said clamping member at saiddischarge station, driving means, and means for actuating said automaticmechanisms from said driving means at the will of the operator. Y

7. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of carriers mounted to travel in ahorizontal plane around the machinev and past a loading station and adischarge station, a vertically movable frame mounted on each carrierand provided with a rack-bar and with a pinion engaging the same, aratchet engaging said pinion and y locking it against rotation in anupward direction, a clamping plate mounted in each frame, driving means,and a plurality of automatic mechanisms placed in actuation from saiddriving means at the will of the operator for causing a stage movementof said conveyor to bring successive empty carriers to rest at theloading station to receive a freshly built heel-blank, and successivecarriers having a clamped heel-blank therein to rest at the dischargestation, for depressing the frame of the carrier lat the loading stationto cause its clamping plate to clamp the freshly built heel-blank andits pinion to travel downward over its rack-bar to be locked at thelimit of its downward movement by the engagement of the ratchet with atooth of said pinion, and for releasing the ratchet and raising saidframe to unclamp the heel-blank at said discharge station.

8. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of carriers mounted t0 travel in ahorizontal plane around the machine and past a loading station and adischarge station, a vertically movable frame mounted on each carrierand provided With a rack-bar and with a pinion engaging the same, aratchet engaging said pinion and locking it against rotation in anupward direction, a clamping plate mounted in each frame, driving means,and a plurality of automatic mechanisms placed in actuation from saiddriving means at the will of the operator for causing a stage movementof said conveyor to bring successive empty carriers to rest at theloading station to receive a freshly built heel-blank, and successivecarriers having a clamped heel-blank therein to rest at the dischargestation, for depressing the frame of the carrier at the loading stationto cause its clamping plate to clamp the freshly built heel-blank andits pinion to travel downward over its rack-bar to be locked at thelimit of its downward movement by the engagement of the ratchet with atooth of said pin-ion, and a unitary device operated bythe machine forreleasing the ratchet and raising said frame to unclamp the heel-blankat said discharge station.

9. A heel building machine comprising, incombination, an endlessconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally-connected carriers mountedto travel around the machine in a horizontal plane and past a loadingstation and a discharge station, a vertically movable clamping membermounted on each carrier, automatic mechanism for causing the travel ofsaid conveyor and for arresting its movement as successivecarriersfarrive opposite said loading and discharge stations,respectively, automatic mechanism for depressing a clamping memberlocated at said loading station, automatic mechanism for raisingfsaidclamping member located at the discharge station, automaticheel-ejecting mechanism operating at the discharge station, drivingmeans, and means for actuating said automatic mechanisms from saiddriving means at the will of the operator and substantially in the ordernamed.

10. A heel building machine comprising, in combination, an endless`vconveyor consisting of a series of pivotally-connected carriersmounted to travel around the machine in a horizontalplane and past aloading station and a discharge station, a vertically movable `clampingmember mounted on each carrier, automatic mechanism for causing thetravel of said conveyor and for arresting its movement as successivecarriers arrive opposite said loading and discharge stations,respectively, automatic mechanism for depressing a clamping memberlocated at said loading station, automatic mechanism for raising saidclamping member located at the discharge station, driving means, meansfor actuating saldantomatic mechanisms from said driving means at thewill of the operator, and means for regulating the throw of saidclamp-depressing mechanisms in accordance with the height of theheel-blank being clamped.

11. A heel buildingY machine comprising, in combination with the frameof the machine, an endless runway mounted thereon and extending entirelyaround the machine, an endless series of pivotally-connected clampingmembers 'mounted to travel over said runway, depressing and releasingmechanisms for said clamping members located adjacent eachother at oneside of the machine, driving means, means under the control of theoperator for causing a movement in stages of said clampingmembers tosuccessively bring two clamping members to rest opposite said depressingand releasing mechanisms, respectively, and means placed inoperation ininitiating the travel oisaid clamping members for depressing oneclamping member and releasing another clamping member after the lattercompleted the circuit of the runway. y' l l2. In a, heel buildingmachine ofthe class described, in which an endless series ofv carriersis caused to travel in stages around the machine to successively bringtwo carriers to rest at a loading station and a discharge station,respectively, a vertically movable clamping member mounted on eachcarrier, operating mechanism therefor, including afverticallyadjustableYrod, mounted on the machine at the loading station, a reeiprocableplunger operated by the machine ier engaging and raising said rod tocause a member of said operating mechanism to engage and depress theclamping member of a carrier at rest at said loading station, and meansfor adjusting said rod to vary the throw of the clamping members inaccordance with the height of the heel-blanks to be clamped.

13. In a heel building machine of the class described, in which anendless series of carriers is caused to travel in stages around themachine to successively bring two carriers to rest at a loading stationand a discharge station, respectively, a vertically movable clampingmember mounted on each carrier, o-perating mechanism therefor mounted onthe machine at the loading station, means operated by the machine tocause a member of said operating mechanism to engage and depress theclamping member of a carrier at rest at said loading station, means oneach carrier for locking its clamping member in a depressed position,operating mechanism fo-r the clamping members mounted on the machine atif the discharge station, and means operated by the machine to causesaid latter mechanism to release the locking means and raise theclamping member of a carrier at rest at said discharge station.

14. A clamp carrier for use in a machine of the character describedcomprising a wheeled base, a clamping-frame slidably mounted forvertical movement thereon, a clamping plate yieldably mounted in anddepending from the top of said frame, a xed rack-bar depending from saidbase, a pinion carried by the clamping-frame and meshing with the teethof said rack-bar, and a ratchet associated with said pinion andoperating to lock the same against rotation to prevent upward movementof said clampingframe from a lowered position.

15. A clamp carrier for use in a machine of the class describedcomprising a base, a clamping-frame slidably mounted for verticalmovement thereon, a clamping plate yieldably` mounted in and dependingfrom the top of said frame, and releasable locking means on said carrieroperating to prevent upward movement of said clamping-frame from alowered position.

16. In a heel building machine, a'base, an endless series of carriersmovable on the base to bring each carrier to a loading station, thencearound the machine to a discharge station, and

back to the loading station, clamping means on each carrier comprisingclamping elements, one movable toward the other, means to dispose aplurality of cement containing, superposed lifts in the clamping meansat the loading station, means to cause one clamping member to movetoward the other to engage and hold the lifts together, means todisplace the carrier one stage at a time toward the discharge station,while holding the clamping member in clamping relation, the stagedmovement bringing the carriers successively to loading and dischargestations, and means to release the clamping means at the dischargestation whereby the now cemented heel blank may be ejected from thecarrier.

17. In a heel building machine, a base, an'

endless series of carriers movable on the base to bring each carrier toa loading station, thence around the machine to a discharge station, andback to the loading station, clamping means on each carrier comprisingclamping elements, one movable toward the other, means to dispose aplurality of cement containing, superposed lifts in the clamping meansat the loading station, means to cause one clamping member to movetoward the other to engage and hold the lifts together, releasable latchmeans to hold the clamping means together, means to displace the carrierone stage at a time toward the discharge station, while holding theclamping member in clamping relation, the staged movement bringing thecarriers successively to loading and discharge stations, and means torelease the latch means at the discharge station, whereby the clampingmeans may release the now cemented heel blank and the same may beejected from the carrier.

18. In a heel building machine, a base, an endless series of carriersmovable on the base to bring each carrier'to a loading station, thencearound the machine to a discharge station, and back to the loadingstation, clamping means on each carrier comprising clamping elements,one movable toward the other, means to dispose a plurality of cementcontaining, superposed lifts in the clamping means at the loadingstation, means to cause one clamping member to move toward the other toengage and hold the lifts together, means to displace the carrier onestage at a time toward the discharge station, while holding the clampingmember in clamping relation, the staged movement bringing the carrierssuccessively to loading and discharge stations, and means to release theclamping means at the discharge station whereby the now cemented heelblank may be ejected from the carrier, and a plurality of cam mechanismsto operate the several means in the order named.

19. In a heel building machine, a base, an endless series of carriersmovable on the base to bring each carrier to a loading station, thencearound the machine to a discharge station, and back to the loadingstation, clamping means on each carrier comprising clamping elements,one movable to-ward the other, means to dispose a plurality of cementcontaining, superposed lifts in the clamping means at the loadingstation, means to cause one clamping member to move toward the other toengage and hold the lifts together, means to displace the carrier onestage at a time toward the discharge station, while holding the clampingmember in clamping relation, the staged movement bringing the carrierssuccessively to loading and discharge stations, and means to release theclamping means at the discharge station whereby the now cemented heelblank may be ejected from the carrier, and a plurality of cam mechanismsto operate the several means in the order named, with a one-cycle clutchadapted to operate the mechanism from the point at which the disposingmeans loads one carrier to the point at which it loads the next carrier.

20. In a heel building machine, a base, an endless series of carriersmovable on the base, operating means to bring each carrier from aloading station around to a discharge station and back to the loadingstation, a clamping member on each carrier including two clampingelements movable one toward another, means at the loading station tomove one of the clamping elements toward the other, and means to adjustthe extent of movement of said last-named means to vary the extent ofmovement of said one clamping element toward the other.

2l. In a heel building machine, a base, an endless series of carriersmovable on the base, operating means to bring each carrier from aloading station around to a discharge station and back to the loadingstation, a clamping member on each carrier including two clampingelements movable

